Apparatus for stripping ingot molds



June 1934- K. H. M LAURIN APPARATUS FOR STRIPPING INGOT MOLDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001.. 9, 1933 June 19, 1934. K. H. MCLAURIN I 1,963,307

I APPARATUS FOR STRIPPING INGOT MOLDS Filed Oct. 9, 1933 Z'Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE This invention relates to an apparatus for stripping ingot molds, and more particularly to the loosening of big-end-up ingots in their molds, although not limited thereto.

I In recent years, several changes in the form of ingots and molds have been advanced, as means for improving the soundness of the ingots. One of these changes involves the reversal of the taper in the mold, making the ingot what is known as being of the big-end-up type. Another improvement is in the form of a refractory hot-top" to provide a sink-head or shrink-head on top of the ingot. These improvements are at present being commonly used, either separately or in combination.

The acceptance of the big-end-up ingot as being decidedly superior over the product of the prior art has necessitated numerous difiiculties in the stripping and handling of the ingots and molds. Due to the smaller lower end of the ingot,

it can no longer stand unsupported for transportation to the soaking pit or reheating furnace after .it has been loosened in the mold. Numerous metallurgical difficulties arise if the ingot mold is reversed on the stool, or laid down on its side.

In view of these difiiculties, it has become common practice to loosen the ingot in' the mold at the usual ingot stripper and to then leave it in the mold for transportation to the soaking pit, where it is withdrawn and charged into the furnace.

As thesoaking pit cranes have tongs for lifting only, it is desirable to first pass .the ingot and mold under the stripper for -feeling the ingot and to force loose any stickers.

The provision of a stripper or loosener for big-end-up ingots ordinarily involves a heavy investment in several especially designed cranes. Stripper cranes for the old type small-end-up molds cannot be used.

40 A number of recent developments provide a pair of powerful tongs which seize the ingot by the hot-top and pull it out, while the mold is held down by the side links of the crane. If a tile hot-top is used, the tongs crush through the tile and bite into the solidified steel. If a brick-lined casing is used for a hot-top, the casings are usually removed at the open-hearth plant before the ingots are transported to the stripper or loosener. g

It is often desirable to loosen big-end-up ingots without "hot-tops, and 'in this event enabling its handling with a crane.

' another stationary type of loosener has hereto-- fore been necessary. In this device, a powerful plunger rises from a mechanism below the level of the floor on which the mold cars are disposed and engage a closure plug set in an aperture in the bottom of the ingot mold. A pair of side links engage the lugs on the mold to hold it downwhen the plunger rises. In numerous steel plants complicated overhead mechanism is used.

Another advance has been to strip big-end-up ingots without hot-tops by setting a pin on the ingot mold stool to engage the plug in the bottom of the mold and thus hold the ingot up out of the mold a sumcient distance so that the tongs ofthe soaking pit cranes can lift the ingots therefrom.

One object of the present invention is the pro vision of a novel apparatus for stripping ingots, and particularly those of the big-end-up variety in a highly efficient and inexpensive manner.

Another object is to provide a novel mold having a highly improved stool construction which, when used therewith, necessitates only the use of a crane, and thus obviates the necessity of complicated machinery and the burden of its maintenance.

These and further objects will be apparent after referring to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus of the invention. r

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of the apparatus in another stage of operation.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 2,

but showing the apparatus in a third step of operation.

Figure 4 is a plan of the novel stool of the invention.

Figure 5 is a plan of the stool in another stage of operation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates an ingot mold having a bottom portion 2? of smaller area than the upper portion 2'', in order to cast ingots of the big-en'd-up" type. The ingot mold 2 is provided with a tapered aperture 2 in the bottom thereof and has on its outer side lugs 2'= and 2 for A tapered plug 3 is adapted to seat in the aperture 2 of. the ingot mold in such manner as to project beyond the bottom thereof, as at 3.

An ingot 4 of the big-end-up type is sho within the ingot mold 2 and extending upwardly therefrom, as at 4, the usual "hot-top having previously been removed.

The novel ingot mold stool of the invention is generally indicated at 5, and is provided with a central aperture 5", andan enlarged slot 5 arranged transversely with respect to the axis of the aperture 5 and in communication therewith. A plate 6 is adapted to slide in the slot 5 and to be moved into a position-covering the aperture 5*.

The usual crane 9 grips the ingot mold 2 by means of its cooperating lugs 2 and 2*, and a hooked-=rod 7 is adapted to be inserted in an aperture 6 of the plate 6 for moving it in the slot 5.

In operation, a plurality of stools 5 are disposed on ingot mold cars 8 with the plate 6 remotely disposed in the'slot 5 with respect to the aperture 5 ingot molds 2 are placed on each of the ingot mold buggies 8 with the plug 3 in position and extending, as at 3, into the aperture 5 of the stool. After the ingots have been cast and permitted to solidify, the ingot molds are raised by means of the crane 9, the hooked-rod '7 inserted in the apertures 6 of the various plates 6 and the plates moved over the apertures 5. The ingot molds 2 are lowered and the extended portion 3 of each of the plugs 3 is permitted to rest on a plate 6, which forces the ingot upwardly in the mold.

The mold cars 8 are then transported to a position adjacent the usual soaking pit, or reheating furnace, and a conventional soaking pit .erane is used to remove them from the mold and place them therein.

While I have shown and described one specific, embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may he made withlessee? out departing from the scope of my invention, as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for stripping an ingot mold having a smaller bottom than the upper portion thereof, comprising a plug disposed in an aperture in said mold, and adapted to protrude therefrom, a stool for said ingot mold having an aperture into which said plug is adapted to extend, said stool having an enlarged slot in communication with said aperture, and a plate slidable in said slot and adapted to cover said aperture.

2. Apparatus for stripping an ingot mold having a smaller bottom than the upper portion thereof, comprising a plug disposed in an aperture in said mold and adapted to protrude therefrom, a stool for said ingot mold having an aperture into which said plug is adapted to extend, said stool having an enlarged slot in communication with said aperture, and a plate slidable in said slot and adapted to cover said aperture, said ingot mold having lugs thereon for enabling its handling.

3. Apparatus for stripping an ingot mold having eon-aperture in its bottom, comprising a plug in said aperture which is adapted to protrude therefrom, a stool having an aperture into which said plug is adapted to extend, said stool having a slot in communication with said aperture, and a plate movable in said slot and adapted to cover said aperture.

KING H. MCLAURIN. 

